Apparatus



(No Model.)

- A. w. LEWIN.

AUTOMATIC EoPE OATGHER, P-IEE ESCAPE, AND CLIMBING APPARATUS. 1No.532,977. Patented Jan. 16, 1894..

1 177 073 rzfior; JAM/w MW im Wpfi v 33 t 6 (av/MM 'NITED STATES ANDERSWILHELM LEWIN,

OF STOOKHOLM, SWEDEN.

AUTOMATIC ROPE-CATCHER, FIRE-ESCAPE, AND CLIMBING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 5l2,977,'dated January16, 1894.

Application filed February 27, 1893. Serial No. 468.828- (No model.)Patented in Sweden February 29, 1892, No. 3,947.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDERS WILHELM LE- WIN, commercial agent, a subjectof the King of Sweden and Norway, and a resident of Stockholm, in theKingdom of Sweden, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inAutomatic Rope-Catchers, also capable of being used as a safetylife-saving and climbing apparatus, (for which I have obtained a patentin Sweden, No. 3,947, hearing date of February 29, 1892,) of which thefollowing is a specification.

The object of my invention is an apparatus so constructed, that When thesame is applied upon a rope and actuated in a given direction along thesame, it clutches the rope automatically, so that it cannot, withoutspecial intervention, be brought farther in thesame direction. Owing tothat property the apparatus may be used with advantage in the differentinstances already indicatedin the above title of the invention. Thus,for instance, it will constitute a sure protection to a person being onsome height or in any other dangerous place, if the person has theapparatus attached to himself and the same traversed by a rope, which issecured to a point situated higher up than the person himself. In theevent that the person happens to fall, the aparatus will clutch therope, thus preventing the fall of the person, who will be suspended inthe rope, the apparatus being, however, besides so constructed that itcan at any time be brought out-of action and is also combined with asuitable brake. It may be used as a climbing apparatus, when a personwants to ascend ordescend a rope as well as a sure saving apparatus,when a person wants to lower himself along a rope.

Referring to the drawings which form a part of this specification,Figure 1 is aside view of the apparatus showing the mechanism partly insection. Fig. 2 represents the apparatus in vertical section viewed fromthe edge, and Fig. 3 is a top view of the apparatus in horizontalsection. Fig. 4 is a side view of the exterior of the apparatus, andFig. 5 is a horizontal section on line ab, Fig. 4, of the same.

The apparatus consists of two clutching clamps A situated opposite oneanother at either side of the rope D and acting as eccentrics and havingthe pivots S fixed in the casing L of the apparatus. From the clampsproject two bars or legs F pivoted to the clamps and having their otherends pivotally connected to each other. The pivots of the bars F in theclamps A are at a greater distance from the rope D than the pivots S oftlfe clamps and in consequence-thereof, if the barsF are pulled, theclamps A will evidently be turned in against the rope D thus pinchingthe latter between themselves, and the pinching will evidently be surerin proportion as the pulling force in the bars F increases. In orderthat the clamps A may surely clutch the rope D, they are hollowed to therounding of the rope and also provided with teeth, which however are notsharp enough to wear the rope. It is evident that the said turning ofthe clamps A against the rope D also takes place when pulling the ropein the direction opposite to the force which acts pulling on the bars F,always provided, however, that the clamps A are resting against the ropeso as to'be ready to clutch the same. To this end there are placed, inthe way shown on the drawings, between the wall of the casing L and theouter ends of the clamps A the springs K, which, as easily understood,keep the clamps pressed to the rope D. As further shown on the drawings,the bars F reach so far below the lower edge of the casing L that theyeasily may be seized by the hand and they are besides guttershaped, andthe edges of the one overlapping the other having the rope between themand thus constituting together almost a pipe which may conveniently. beseized by the hand. Further, the bow T is fixed to the connected ends ofbars F, intended to carry the load supported by the rope catcher.

In order that the rope catcher now described may be used as a savingapparatus on a rope and C pivoted in such a way to the clutching clampsA of the rope catcher, that their points of contact on the rope D arebelow the corresponding points of the clutching clamps.

At the one clutching clamp A is further pivoted the lever E, by means ofwhich the brake clamp B can be actuated toward the rope D. The levermight also consist of an extension of the brake clamp. The other brakeclamp G has its lower end resting against one of the bars F. NVhen byseizing with one hand the bars F and the lever E the latterpresses thebrake clamp B against the rope, the brake clamp C resting against theopposite side of the same. The latter clamp thereby turns outward theclutching clamp A, to which it is united so that the clutching clampsare released from the rope. ,In the same moment the whole weight isbrought over to the brake clamps, which now evidently act in the sameway as a knee-joint and by this action the clutching clamps A areentirely removed from the repel). In order however that theclamps herebymay not tilt over, they are provided with shoulders I, which, when theyhave turned sufficiently far, will rest against the opposite edges ofthe brake clamps. will be easily understood by the drawings. It now thesaid action of the brake clamps is suitably adjusted, the loaded ropecatcher can, as already stated, glide down the rope and by actuating thelever E still more, the gliding of the rope catcher will be stopped.This latter is also eifected by releasing the grasp on the lever E andthe bars F, when the-clutching clamps A will instantaneously clutch therope, owing to the action of the springs K.

The rope catcher now described is further provided with a safety deviceconsisting of a plate U movable in the exterior 9f the easing L and bentin angle over its top edge. Theplate is provided with slots V traversedbythe ends of the pins or pivotsX projecting from the clutching clamps,for which pivots also are provided slots Yin the casing. As will beunderstood it might happen that the person supported by the rope catcherunder any it of. the above circumstances, may accidentally seize the topedge of thecasing L, so as to pull this downward, which will act uponthe clutching clamps so as to be turned outward thus causing the ropecatcher to be released. This action would take place provided the userexerted such a pressure on the barsFandthe casingL as would amounttolifting the bars in relation to the casingL. This hold of the lover ofthe brake device.

This

releasing action of the clamps is however prevented by the said plate U.Owing to the oblique position of the pivots X the latter and also theclutching clamps A will evidently,if the plate is pulled downward, beapproached to the rope D, so that the rope catcher will clutch the. ropestill stronger.

Arranged as now described the rope catcher constitutes obviously areliable life-savin g apparatus as it may at will be stopped or putinmotion on the rope and besides automatically clutch the same if theperson supported by the rope catcher shouldaccidentall y loose hisBesides it may speedily and with the greatest facility be applied onropes of rather varying thickness.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure byLetters Patent, is-

1. In combination, the casingadapted to receive the rope, the clutchingclamps pivoted therein on opposite sides of the rope, the brake clampsB, G, pivoted to the clutching clamps on opposite sides of the ropeand'depending from the clutching clamps and the means for operating thebrakeclamps whereby the clutching clamps maybe operated and the brakingaction on the rope controlled, substantially as described.

2. In combination, the casing, the clutching clamps therein, the brakeclamps pivoted to the clutching clamps on opposite sides of the rope andthe lever E arranged to operate one of the brake clamps, substantiallyas described.

3. In combination,the casingthe clutching clamps pivoted therein toclamp the rope,,the link barsF connected to the clutching clamps andhaving means for attaching the support for the uses, and theplateUexten'ding over the casingand having inclined slots-to receivepins X on the: clutching clamps whereby downward pressure on the plate Uwill tend to move the clamps to clutch the rope, substantially asdescribed.

. 4. In combination, the casing, the clutching clamps pivoted therein,and the link bars pivoted to the clutching clamps and havingtheir lowerends pivoted-together, said links encircling the rope, substantially asdescribed. T

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

ANDERS WVILHELM' LEWIN. Witnesses:

CARL CERELL, L. ENGLUM.

